U.S. patent number 4,227,478 [Application Number 05/950,279] was granted by the patent office on 1980-10-14 for inflatable barge with compartmented interior.
Invention is credited to Paul Preus.
United States Patent |
4,227,478 |
Preus |
October 14, 1980 |
Inflatable barge with compartmented interior
Abstract
An air or surface deployable inflatable, flexible wall, fluid
holding barge is provided with a plurality of internal compartments
and is provided about at least a portion of its outer skin with a
gas inflatable barrier which improves the floatability of the barge
and materially reduces the danger of skin rupture during the
filling, towing and off-loading operations.
Inventors: |
Preus; Paul (Toms River,
NJ) |
Family
ID: |
25490216 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/950,279 |
Filed: |
October 11, 1978 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/256 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B
35/285 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B63B
35/00 (20060101); B63B 35/28 (20060101); B65D
089/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;114/74R,74T,219,220,256,257,270 ;405/26,60,63,64,68,72
;220/22 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Kazenske; Edward R.
Assistant Examiner: Sotelo; Jesus D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Stowell; Harold L.
Claims
I claim:
1. An air or surface deployable, inflatable, flexible wall, fluid
holding towable container comprising a hollow, generally tubular,
flexible wall container, a vertically oriented partition extending
the length of the container, a plurality of partitions positioned
in spaced relation to one another extending transversely to the
lengthwise extending partition, said length-wise extending and
transverse partitions dividing the container into a plurality of
compartments, closeable fluid filling-emptying ports in the top
wall of the container, gas inflatable barrier means extending at
least along a substantial portion of the longitudinal side walls of
said container in the zone of the water line of the container when
it is filled with a liquid;
said gas inflatable barrier means comprising a plurality of
independently gas inflatable chambers arranged in a spaced array
and connected together by impervious impregnated fabric, whereby
rupturing of one of the plurality of independently inflatable
chambers will not impair the function of the other of the
chambers.
2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the gas inflatable
barrier means comprises a pair of opposed horizontally and
longitudinally extending inflatable barriers at each side of the
flexible wall container and cable means extending from each of the
inflatable barrier means about the remainder of the generally
cylindrical surface of the container.
3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the inflatable barrier
means is spirally wound about the external longitudinal surface of
the flexible wall container.
4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein the spirally wound
inflatable barrier means comprises a plurality of layers of such
spiral windings.
5. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the inflatable barrier
means comprises a plurality of superimposed longitudinally
extending barriers covering at least about 240 degrees of the
external surface of the flexible wall container.
6. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the inflatable barrier
means comprises a plurality of generally ring-shaped layers of
barriers arranged in spaced longitudinal arrangement about the
flexible wall container.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
Related subject matter is disclosed and claimed in my co-pending
application Ser. No. 938,426, filed Aug. 31, 1978.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to an air or surface deployable,
inflatable, flexible, towable container for liquids which is
protected against skin rupture on wrecks, rocks, jetties, or during
beaching or by collision and is proveded with a plurality of
internal compartments.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It has been known for a number of years that there is a substantial
need to expedite oil pollution control operations including
deploying at the scene of a casualty or potential casualty barge
means whereby oil and other liquids can be off-loaded from tankers,
tank ships, barges, or vessels as is necessary to refloat them and
or to prevent or minimize water pollution by the vessel contained
fluids if the vessel suffers hull damage due to heavy seas or
becomes grounded.
The above recited needs have been in part satisfied by the use of a
few rubberized holding tanks having capacities from about five to
over one thousand cubic meters which floatable, rubberized holding
tanks, once filled with the off-loaded liquids, are towed to
discharged facilities which may be other vessels, or at
dockside.
However, current models of such inflatable, flexible holding tanks
lacked safety features to prevent further pollution often caused by
rips or tears in the fabric skin adding to the pollution which the
holding tank was intended to diminish or abate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention may be summarized as an air or surface deployable,
inflatable, flexible wall, fluid holding, towable container
comprising a hollow, generally tubular, flexible wall container, a
plurality of internal compartments in said container, at least one
closeable inlet and outlet means for each of the compartments for
directing fluids into and out of the container compartments further
characterized by gas inflatable barrier means extending at least
along the longitudinal side walls of said container in the zone of
the water line of the container when it is filled with a
liquid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The invention will be more particularly described in reference to
the drawing wherein;
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a flexible wall
container of the invention having one means of protecting the side
walls thereof;
FIG. 2 is a section on line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view like FIG. 1 of a modified form of the present
invention;
FIG. 4 is a view like FIG. 1 of another form of the present
invention;
FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 1 of a further form of the present
invention;
FIG. 6 is a section on line 6--6 of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 1 of still another form of the present
invention;
FIG. 8 is a section on line 8--8 of FIG. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, 10 generally designates one embodiment
of applicant's improved inflatable barge or container. The assembly
10 includes an elongated tubular, flexible wall, towable container
12 having cylindrical side wall 14, and end walls 16 and 18. The
forward end wall 16 is provided with a towing cable 20.
The towing cable 20 connects to a plurality of straps 21 stitched
or otherwise adhered to the outer surface of the side wall 14 and
to opposite surfaces of longitudinal partition 26 as more clearly
shown in FIG. 2.
Internally, the container 12 is divided into a plurality of
compartments which are in fluid isolation. The compartments are
designated 22a-b, 24a-b, etc., and are formed by a longitudinal
partition 26 and transverse partition 28a and 28b.
Each compartment 22a, 22b, 24a, 24b, etc., is provided with
closeable ports 29 for directing fluids into and out of the plural
compartments 22a, b, 24a, b, etc.
The container 10 has its outer skin made from, for example,
synthetic rubber-coated nylon fabric and cord and preferably the
interior is provided with a nitrile coating that is unaffected by
petroleum products and the outside is, for example, neoprene which
withstands abrasion, sunlight, salt water and ozone attack.
The partitions 26, 28a and 28b are made from, for example,
synthetic rubber-coated nylon fabric and cord coated on both
surfaces with a nitrile coating that is unaffected by petroleum
products.
Notwithstanding the employment of rubber fabric, cord and plastic
composites for the skin, damage to the skin can occur and a single
tear in the skin permits the release of the contents of the
affected compartment into the water and such tears can be brought
about by rocks, jetties, river beds, collision, beaching, and where
the container is used to off-load oil and other contaminating
fluids from wrecks, which often occurred during the inclement
weather, the risk of tearing the skin is increased many fold.
Such containers can be made in lengths of, for example 10 to 100
meters and diameters of 1 to over 5 meters; thus, having capacities
in the order of 50 to over 1,000 cubic meters.
In order to reduce the hazards involved in using such inflatable,
flexible wall, fluid holding, towable containers, the skin is
protected by gas inflatable barrier means generally designated 30,
31 and 33.
In the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the inflatable
protective barriers consist of a flexible fabric impregnated with
vulcanized rubber or plastic composition preferably inert to
hydrocarbons which fabric is formed to provide a plurality of
spaced flotation cells 34, longitudinal top rib 36, and skirt
portion 38.
Preferably, each flotation cell 34 has a longitudinal central
division strip constructed of the same fabric material so that with
the rib or strip 40 in sealing engagement with the walls of the
flotation cells 34, there is in effect two cells to each unit 34.
Strength is provided by forming the fabric just below the flotation
cells 34 with a pair of pockets or pouches 42 containing cables or
chains or the like.
Along the lower longitudinal edge 44 of the skirt 38 are provided a
plurality of anchoring loops 46 and similar anchoring loops 48 are
provided along the top ridge member 36. Shackle elements 50 are
mounted to the loops 46 and 48 through which cables 52 at the top
and 54 at the bottom are attached. The cables 52 and 54 cross over
and under the container 12 and are attached to corresponding
inflatable barriers on the opposite side of the container as more
clearly illustrated in FIG. 2.
Inflatable protective barriers 31 and 33 for the front and rear
ends 16 and 18 of the container 12 are formed like the protective
barriers 30 hereinbefore described and are likewise held in place
by cables 52' and 54' which, as illustrated, may be attached to
cables 52 and 54 of protective barriers 30.
In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, at least
two side-by-side flotation barrier means are provided for each
tank; thus, at the water line there are six layers of rubberized or
plasticized fabric plus the resilient bumper control of the air
flotation chambers themselves which must be penetrated prior to
reaching the skin 14 of the flotation tank. When a pair of
side-by-side barrier means are provided for the tank having spaced
flotation cells 34, the units are positioned such that a flotation
cell of one of the units is positioned to overlap the gap 56, FIG.
1, between flotation cells of the adjacent barrier. From the
foregoing, it will be seen that the combination of a multiple
celled, flexible wall container provided with wall protecting means
materially improves the reliability of such barges.
One form of commercial inflatable barrier means which has proved to
be very satisfactory for use as a protective means of the present
invention are disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,849,989, issued Nov.
26, 1974. Flotation barriers of the type illustrated in my said
prior patent are readily available and many thousands of feet are
held in reserve by the Navy, Coast Guard, and oil spill, clean-up
cooperatives. With some 20,000 feet in special commercial cargo
containers for each world-wide deployment.
It will be noted from FIG. 2 that the units 30 also provide means
for preventing the container from rolling and act as outriggers for
the container, thus in part, eliminating the need for keel in this
form of the invention, however, such keels are shown at 80a, b, and
c, and are formed as an integral part of the skin of the barge.
It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that where
desired, another row or rows of inflatable barriers may be added
below or outboard of the units 30 if the seas are particularly
rough and greater bouyancy is desired.
Referring now to the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3,
there is shown a flexible wall, plural compartment container 12,
which may be identical to that illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and
includes an outer cylindrical skin 14, a front end 16, a rear end
18, plural filler ports 29, and a tow cable assembly 20. About the
external surface of the skin 14 of the container 12, is spirally
wrapped one or more inflatable barriers 30-3, and end barriers
31-3, and 33-3.
The inflatable barriers 30-3 may be identical to the inflatable
barriers 30 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and would include the
inflatable chamber areas 34, a skirt portion 38, a wing portion 36,
and connector tabs 46 along the lower margin of the skirt 38 and
connector tabs 48 about the upper edge of the wing portion 36.
Cables or chains 60 are connected to the plural connectors 48 along
the wing portion 38 to retain the flotation element 30 in its
spiral configuration about the outer skin 14 of the tank 12. A
similar chain or cable 62 is connected to the connectors 46 along
the lower edge of the skirt portion 38 and assist in attaching the
flotation means 30-3 in its spiral configuration to the tank
12.
In FIG. 3, a single layer of the flotation means 30-3 is
illustrated as being spirally positioned about the longitudinal
axis of the tank 12; however, as depicted in FIG. 2, two layers of
the cells 30-3 may be employed so that the flotation cells 34
overlap the open spaces 56 between opposed layers to thereby insure
that there are plural layers of fabric which must be penetrated
prior to penetration of the skin 14 of one of the compartments of
the tank 12.
It will be noted that the end barriers 31-3 and 33-3 are not merely
continuations of the spirally wrapped units 30-3, but independent
units secured in a somewhat vertical array. The cables attaching
units 31-3 and 33-3 to the container may be attached to the cables
from unit 30-3 so that the three units are all tied or connected to
each other.
Unlike the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
protective barrier units 30-3, 31-3 and 33-3 do not function as
outriggers; it is necessary in order to stabilize the container
from rolling that one or more keels 80 be hung from the lower cable
62, and/or 60 or the shackle elements 50., by cables or chains 82.
The keels 80 may take various forms, including the "sea anchor"
form of the sea anchor pockets in the skirt of my U.S. Pat. No.
3,795,315, granted Mar. 5, 1974.
Referring now to FIG. 4 of the drawing, a preferred form of the
spirally-configured, inflatable protector is illustrated and
designated 10-4. In this form of the invention the container 12 may
be identical to that illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 and includes
a skin portion 14 front and rear ends 16 and 18, a towing cable or
bridle assembly 20 and a plurality of filler ports 29 for filling
and emptying the container 12.
About the outer surface of the container 12 are spirally wrapped
three flotation and protection barriers designated 30a, 30b, and
30c. In this form of the invention, the spirally-wound flotation
means 30a, b, and c are identical to that illustrated in FIG. 3 and
in spirally wrapping the three units; units 30a and 30c are first
wrapped in the illustrated spiral configuration and secured thereto
by their respective cables 60, 62, and 63 with cable 63 being
common to the lower skirt portion of flotation means 30c and the
wing portion of unit 30a. After the flotation means 30a and 30c are
spirally wrapped and secured by cables 60, 62, and 63; the third
element 30b is spirally wrapped as illustrated to provide in the
zones of the spiral configuration at least six protective layers
which must be penetrated prior to penetration of the skin 14 of the
tank 12.
The top layer of spirally wound, inflatable protecting means 30b is
also provided with cables 60' and 62' at the upper and lower edges
thereof which cables like 60, 62, and 63 secure the flotation means
30b in its desired location.
As in the other forms of my invention, the front end 16 and the
rear end 18 of the container are protected by flotation barriers
31-4 and 33-4 and one or more keels 80 are suspended from the
cables attaching units 30a, b and c to the container.
It will be particularly noted that in spirally wrapping the
flotation means in the FIGS. 3 and 4 form of the invention the
wrapping is such as to leave exposed the filling port 29 and in so
doing portions of the side wall 14 of such containers are left
somewhat exposed which is not the case with the assembly shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6.
Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, a particularly advantageous
configuration of plural inflatable protection units for the
inflatable, flexible, plural chambered and towable container is
illustrated. In FIG. 5, the unit is generally designated 10-5 and
includes the container 12 which may be identical to the containers
12 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4. The container 12 has an outer
cylindrical skin 14 and front and rear end walls 16 and 18, and is
protected by a plurality of horizontally extending protective
barriers 30-5 arranged in a plurality of over-lapping rows as more
clearly illustrated in FIG. 6.
Internally, the container 12 is divided into a plurality of
compartments which are in fluid isolation. The compartments are
designated 22a-b, 24a-b, etc., and are formed by a longitudinal
partition 26 and transverse partitions 28a and 28b.
Each compartment 22a, 22b, 24a, 24b, etc., is provided with
closeable ports 29 for directing fluids into and out of the plural
compartments 22a, b, and 24a, b, etc.
The over-lapping rows of protective barriers 30-5 are arranged such
that all areas of the container 12 in an arc of at least about 240
degrees is intimately protected by the inflatable protective
barriers 30-5, which 240 degrees includes at least the complete
zone of submergence of the tank 12 when filled with a liquid. In
FIG. 6, it will be noted that the plural protective inflatable
barrier means 30-5 are chained with the wing portion 38 of another
by suitable connectors such as illustrated at 70 and relatively
short cables 72 and 74 lash the units over the top of the container
12. In assembling this form of the invention, the connectors 70 of
a plurality of rows of protective barriers 30-5 are first assembled
and the assembled units are then positioned about the container 12
and maintained thereon by the cable 72 and 74.
As in the other forms of my invention, the front end 16 and the
rear end 18 of the container 10-5 are protected by flotation
barriers 31-5 and 33-5.
Further, in this form of the invention a pair of keels 81 and 83
are suspended from the protective barrier 30-5 and such keels may
be of the sea anchor type. It will also be recognized by those
skilled in the art that only a center keel or a center and two-side
keels may be used without departing rrom the scope of the present
invention.
Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawing, a further embodiment
of the present invention is illustrated wherein the protective
inflatable barriers are mounted in a plurality of discrete rings.
In FIGS. 7 and 8, the inflatable barge is generally designated
10-7, and includes the deployable, inflatable, flexible, towable
container 12 which may be identical to those illustrated in the
previous forms of the invention which container includes an outer
skin 14. About the outer skin 14 are a plurality of rings a, b, c,
etc. of inflatable protective barriers 30-7. In FIG. 8 it will be
seen that each ring a, b, c, etc., is composed of two concentric
layers of the barriers 30-7 which may be of identical construction
to the inflatable barriers 30 of FIGS. 1 and 2 of the
invention.
In assembling this form of the invention, the first layer
designated 30-7a is wrapped about the outer surface 14 of the
container 12 and secured thereto by cables 80 and then the second
layer designated 30-7b is laid about the first layer 30-7a in a
staggered configuration such that open spaces between the flotation
elements 34-7 are covered by the outer layer 30-7b. Then, the outer
layer 30-7b is secured in its desired configuration by cables 82.
This process is repeated for each of the rows a, b c, etc., and the
rows may be as close as desired depending on the nature of the
intended use of the inflatable barge.
As in the other forms of my invention, the front end 16 and the
rear end 18 of the container are protected by flotation barriers
31-7 and 33-7 and one or more keels 80' are suspended from cables
attaching units 30-7 to the container.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention
provides a very simple, but highly effective means for rendering
prior art conventional and highly vulnerable inflatable containers
susceptible of meeting present day standards of safety.
It will also be recognized by those skilled in the art that various
other configurations may be employed without departing from the
scope of the present invention.
* * * * *